Improvement in fastening hoop ends in tabs of bustles



' (with the tabs) the bustle.

UNITED STATES LINSON DE FOREST, OF BIRMINGHAM, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO HIM- SELF AND THOMAS B. DE FOREST, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FASTENING HOOPENDS IN TABS OF BUSTLES.

Specilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 36,510, dated September 23, 1862.

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LINsoN DE FoREsT, of Birmingham, in the town of Derby, New Haven county, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hoop-Skirt Bustles; and I do hereby declare the same to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the bustle portion of the hoop-skirt, and has for its object to prevent the wear usually occasioned in the tabs by the motion of the ends of the bustle-hoops, the clasps of which pass into said tabs; and to this end my said invention consists in securing the ends of the bustle-hoops to the tabs by means of a peculiarly-constructed clasp and eyelet, as hereinafter fully described.

'Io enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the same, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which- Figure lis a perspective View of a hoopskirt and bustle embracing my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the clasp on the end of the bustledioop, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the clasp before itis attached to the hoop or tab either.

In the several figures the same part is indicated by the same letter of reference.

A is the waistband. B are the tapes, and C the hoops of the skirt. The first, second, third, and fourth of the hoops C constitute These hoops, as is well known, do not meet, but their ends are arranged in two tabs, D D', in front of the skirt and some distance apart. These tabs are made of cloth or canvas in the usual manner. One of them, D, I have shown in the drawings corresponding to the kind now in use. rIhe other, D, I have illustrated with myinvention-Viz., the eyelet-clasps securing the ends of bustlehoops to the tab. The peculiar formation of the clasp a before it is applied is fully shown at Fig. 2, while at Fig. 3 is shown the clasp as applied to the end of hoops of the bustle. It will lbe understood that the ends of hoops passing into tab D (in the usual manner) are not secured to the tab D; but that the clasps on ends of said hoops secure the latter only to the tape B, and the clasp and end of hoop are constantly Working or moving in the tab D and soon Wear the latter out by constant friction; and it will be seen that the hoop ends which pass into tab D are firmly secured to said tab D by the eyelet e, which passes through the tab D' and through the eye f of the clasp a, which is on end of hoop. Thus the ends of the bustle-hoops are by means of my improved clasp a not only secured to tape B, but also to the tab D by means of eyelets e, as before explained, aud thereby the tabs are protected from Wear, (by the constant friction,) and the bustle and skirt rendered every Way moredesirable and durable.

I am aware that a clasp with lau eyehas been employed in connection with an eyelet for fastening the hoops of skirts in the tapes, (as in the patent of Thompsom) but I do not conceive my invention to conilict with or bear any analogy to such a device.

Having fully described the construction and operation of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,`

Fastening the ends of the bustle-hoop inthe tabs D by means of eyelets and eyelet-clasps', substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and afxed my seal this 31st day of January, 1862.

LINSON DE FOREST. [L s] Witnesses:

THOMAS B. DE FOREST, C. H. DE FOREST. 

